And God Said, "No"

I asked God to take away my pride,
And God said, “No.”
He said it was not for Him to take away,
but for me to give up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole,
And God said, “No.”
He said her spirit is whole,
her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience,
And God said, “No.”
He said that patience is a byproduct of tribulation,
it isn’t granted, it’s earned.

I asked God to give me happiness,
And God said, “No.”
He said He gives blessings,
happiness is up to me.

I asked God to spare me pain,
And God said, “No.”
He said, “suffering draws you apart from

worldly cares and brings you closer to Me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow,
And God said, “No.”
He said I must grow on my own,

but He will prune me to make me fruitful.

I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me.

And God said, “Ah, finally, you have the idea.”

 Claudia Minden Weisz